Micro-phase adjusting and micro-phase adjusting mixer circuits designed with standard field effect transistor structures

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a programmable phase adjusting circuit, a programmable phase adjusting mixer circuit and design structures for these circuits. These circuits comprise a variable delay device connected between input and output nodes. The device includes multiple FETs with input diffusion regions that are connected to a voltage rail via switches so that they can be selectively biased, gates that are connected in series to the input node so that a periodic input signal can be propagated sequentially through each of the gates and output diffusion regions that are connected in parallel to the output node. A current source is connected between the output node and another voltage rail for biasing the output node when the variable delay device is off. The variable delay device enables a circuit in which small increments of selectable phase adjustments can be made to the periodic input signal as a function of propagation delay.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following co-pending applicationfiled concurrently herewith by the same Applicants and assigned to thesame Assignee, namely, International Business Machines Corporation (IBMCorporation): “Multiple-Source-Single Drain Field Effect SemiconductorDevice And Circuit”, Attorney Docket No. BUR920070059US1. The completedisclosure of this co-pending application is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the invention generally relate to phase adjusting andphase adjusting mixer circuits and, more particularly, to phaseadjusting and phase adjusting mixer circuits that incorporate a variabledelay device having multiple individually selectable field effecttransistors (FETs) for selectively programming delay. The embodiments ofthe invention further relate to design structures embodied in a machinereadable medium for designing and manufacturing such micro-phaseadjusting and micro-phase adjusting mixer circuits.

2. Description of the Related Art

With recent advances in semiconductor technology, integration levelshave increased to the point where the functional capabilities of asingle system-on-a-chip (SOC) produced today may exceed those of anentire computer that was produced less than five years ago. For example,complex analog functions (e.g., physical layer transceivers and highspeed serial interfaces) are routinely integrated into such SOCs.Operation of such high speed interfaces commonly requires a means ofphase synchronization to correctly sample incoming data. Today, phasesynchronization is typically accomplished using a phase rotator designedto mix several phase-related signals to create a selectable phase offsetHowever, while adequate for current clock speeds and de-serializationusage, these phase rotators are large, expensive, complex and havelimited frequency/granularity.

Technological advancements have also recently been made allowing forembedded radio frequency (RF) functions within larger digital integratedcircuits. These RF functions may see performance benefit if clocks canbe more tightly aligned using phase shifters. Furthermore, current logicdesigns often require delay of clock or data signals in order to correctfor timing (setup or hold) violations in various logic paths. However,because analog functions (e.g., phase rotators and delayed locked loops(DLLs)) are expensive to implement, phase adjusting circuits thatincorporate fixed delay cells are typically used. Such phase adjustingcircuits use a path of delay cells (e.g., inverters) designed to providea significant fixed (i.e. non-programmable) delay that varies overprocess, voltage and temperature (PVT) with other logic cells. The delayvariation between best case (BC) PVT and worst case (WC) PVT may be morethan 2 times. Because of this, a circuit designer must often balance theneed for adding delay to a path to correct timing issues at the BCcorner with the increase in delay at the WC corner. Therefore, there isa need in the art for a circuit topology which provides for low costprogrammable input signal phase-adjustment capability in order to finetune input signal arrival and data synchronization in digital systems.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, disclosed herein are embodiments of aprogrammable phase adjusting circuit, a programmable phase adjustingmixer circuit and design structures for these circuits. The programmablephase adjusting circuit comprises a variable delay device connectedbetween an input node for receiving a signal requiring phase adjustmentand an output node for outputting a phase adjusted signal. The variabledelay device is made up of multiple propagation field effect transistors(propagation FETs). The propagation FETs have input diffusion regionsthat are connected to a voltage rail via switches so that they can beselectively biased, gates that are connected (i.e., coupled) in seriesto the input node such that the signal requiring phase adjustment can bepropagated to each of the gates sequentially and output diffusionregions that are connected in parallel to the output node. A currentsource (i.e., load device) is connected between the output node andanother voltage rail (e.g., a power source) and is adapted to bias theoutput node when the variable delay device is off. This load device canbe constant, non-constant and dependent upon the signal at the inputnode or, as in a phase adjusting mixer circuit, non-constant andindependent of the signal at the input node. This variable delay deviceenables a phase adjusting circuit in which small increments ofselectable phase adjustments can be made to a periodic input signal as afunction of which propagation FET(s) is/are selected (i.e., as afunction of propagation delay). During design, the delay can be tuned byvarying the size of the propagation FETs, by incorporating resistance(salicided or non-salicided) into the series connection of the gatesand/or by incorporating capacitance into series connection of the gates.

More particularly, disclosed herein are embodiments of a programmablephase adjusting circuit. This circuit can comprise an input node, anoutput node and a variable delay device connected between the input andoutput nodes. Specifically, the input node can be adapted to receive afirst signal (e.g., a periodic signal requiring phase adjustment) fromanother device (e.g., from another logic circuit, a clock driver, etc.)that is connected to the input node and that is logically positionedbefore the phase adjusting circuit.

The variable delay device (i.e., a programmable delay device) cancomprise a plurality of propagation field effect transistors (FETs),where each propagation FET comprises an input diffusion region, a gateand an output diffusion region. The input diffusion regions of each ofthe propagation FETs are adapted to be selectively biased. That is, eachinput diffusion region is connected via a corresponding switch to avoltage rail (e.g., to ground) so as to allow individual and selectivebiasing of one or more selected FET(s) at a time. Each switch cancomprise, for example, a selection FET controlled by a correspondingselect line. The gates of the propagation FETs are connected (i.e.,coupled) in series to the input node (i.e., the input node and the gatesform a series connection). The output diffusion regions of thepropagation FETs are connected in parallel to the output node. A currentsource (i.e., a load device) is connected between another voltage rail(e.g., a power supply) and the output node. This current source isadapted to bias the output node when all of said field effecttransistors are off.

Given the above-described phase adjusting circuit configuration, whenthe first signal (i.e., the signal requiring phase adjustment) is driveninto the input node, this signal is propagated from the input node toeach of the gates sequentially. Furthermore, when an active edge of thisfirst signal reaches the first gate in the series connection, thechannel region between the input and output diffusion regions of thefirst field effect transistor is enabled. Next, when the active edge ofthis first signal reaches the second gate in the series connection, thechannel region between the input and output diffusion regions of thesecond field effect transistor is enabled. This continues until finallythe active edge of this first signal reaches the last gate in the seriesconnection, thereby enabling the channel region between the input andoutput diffusion regions of the last field effect transistor. Althoughthe active edge of the input signal will enable each of these channelsin sequence, for each unselected switch (i.e., for each unselected FET),impedance will remain high in the corresponding input diffusion region,thereby preventing any impact on circuit output. That is, although thechannels are enabled, a second signal (i.e., a phase adjusted signal) isnot transmitted to the output node until an input diffusion region isselectively biased. Consequently, phase adjustment of the first signalis a function of propagation delay of the first signal through theseries connection of the gates and a function of which one or more ofthe propagation FETs is selected (i.e., which one or more of the inputdiffusion regions are selectively biased).

More specifically, during operation of this phase adjusting circuit, asingle propagation FET can be selected (i.e., a single input diffusionregion of a single propagation FET can be selectively biased). When theinput diffusion region is biased, impedance will go low in that inputdiffusion region but will remain high in the input diffusion regions ofall of the other non-selected propagation FETs. Then, when the firstsignal is propagated sequentially to the gates and the active edge ofthe first signal passes through the gate of the selected propagationFET, a channel (i.e., an electrical connection) will be enabled betweenthe biased input diffusion region of the selected propagation FET andits output diffusion region. Biasing the input region of the selectedpropagation FET allows a second signal (i.e., a phase adjusted signal)to be transmitted through the selected propagation FET to the outputnode once the channel is enabled. The second signal is combined at theoutput node with the load of the current source (i.e., with the loaddevice). Additionally, the first signal continues to be propagated tothe gates in the series connection in sequence and, as the inactive edgeof the first signal passes through the gate of the selected propagationFET, the electrical connection will be broken (i.e., transmission of thesecond signal to the output node is broken).

The phase difference between the first and second signals is based inpart on which propagation FET is selected (i.e., which input diffusionregion is selectively biased) relative to the originating point of thefirst signal. That is, the greater the electrical distance (i.e., delaydue to built-in resistance and capacitance) between the selectedpropagation FET and the input node, the greater the propagation delayand, thus, the greater the phase adjustment. Contrarily, the closer theelectrical distance between the selected propagation FET and the inputnode, the smaller the phase adjustment will be.

Alternatively, during operation of this phase adjusting circuit,multiple propagation FETs can be selected (i.e., multiple inputdiffusion regions corresponding to multiple propagation FETs can beselectively and simultaneously biased). When multiple input diffusionregions are selectively biased, impedance will remain high in the inputdiffusion regions of all of the other non-selected propagation FETs.When the first signal is driven into the input node and propagatedsequentially to each of the gates in the series connection, channelswill be enabled between the input diffusion regions and the outputdiffusion regions of each propagation FET. However, as the active edgeof the first signal reaches the gate of the first selected FET (i.e.,the first FET having a biased input diffusion region), a second signal(i.e., a phase adjusted signal) will begin passing through the firstselected propagation FET to its corresponding output diffusion region.When the active edge of the first signal passes through the gate of thesecond selected propagation FET (i.e., the next FET having a biasedinput diffusion region), nothing happens because the second signal hasalready been propagated. Similarly, when the inactive edge of the firstsignal passes through the gate of the first selected propagation FET,nothing happens because the output node continues to be driven to thesecond signal due to the biasing of the input diffusion region of thesecond selected propagation FET. Only when the inactive edge of thefirst signal passes through the gate of the last selected propagationFET (i.e., the last FET having a biased input diffusion region) is theelectrical connection broken (i.e., is transmission of the second signalbroken), thereby allowing the output node to again be controlled by thecurrent source. Thus, not only is the phase of the first signaladjusted, but also the length (i.e., the pulse width).

Delay and, thus, phase-adjustment is based, not only on whichpropagation FET(s) is/are selected (i.e., which input diffusion regionsare selectively biased), but also on resistance and capacitance withinthe series connection of the gates (i.e., RC delay). Thus, the variabledelay device in the phase adjusting circuit can further be designed withpropagation FETs having different sizes, with resistance (salicided ornon-salicided) incorporated into the series connection of the gatesand/or with capacitance incorporated into the series connection of thegates so as to fine tune the incremental changes in delay. Specifically,the propagation FETS of the variable delay device can have uniform sizesso as to provide uniform delay increments or varying sizes so as toprovide non-uniform delay increments or to compensate for other delayinducing features in the circuit in order to ensure uniform delayincrements. Additionally, the variable delay device can comprise one ormore resistors connected between nodes in the series connection of thegates and/or capacitors connected at a node in the series connection ofthe gates. Finally, the series connection of the gates can comprise onlysilicide regions, only non-silicide region or a mixture of silicide andnon-silicide regions, for example, on the gates themselves and/orbetween the gates.

As mentioned above, the current source (i.e., the load device) isconnected between the output node and a voltage rail (e.g., a powersource) and is adapted to bias the output node when all of thepropagation FETs are turned off. At the output node, the phase adjustedsignal is combined with the load of the current source. In oneembodiment of the phase adjusting circuit, this current source is aconstant current source comprising, for example, a biased FET, adiode-connected FET, or any other suitable device that is sized toprovide appropriate signal swing)).

Alternatively, in another embodiment of the invention, the currentsource (i.e., the load device) can be non-constant, but dependent uponthe same first signal as the variable delay device. For example, thecurrent source of the phase adjusting circuit in this embodiment cancomprise at least one additional delay device that is also connectedbetween the input and output nodes of the phase adjusting circuit. Thisadditional delay device can comprise a non-variable delay device, asecond variable delay device configured in the same manner as thevariable delay device described above, or any other suitable delaydevice. As with the variable delay device, this additional delay devicecan be adapted to receive the first signal and simultaneously, butindependently, phase adjust the first signal. Thus, in this embodimentthe output node is adapted to combine the separate phase adjustedsignals from both the different delay devices (i.e., from the variabledelay device and the additional delay device) such that the final outputof the phase adjusting circuit is a single combined phase adjustedsignal.

In yet another embodiment, the phase adjusting circuit can comprise acurrent source (i.e., the load device) that is both non-constant and notdependent upon the first signal at the input node. Thus, this circuitfunctions as both a phase adjusting circuit and a mixer circuit. Thatis, in a phase adjusting mixer circuit embodiment, the current sourcecan be electrically connected to the output node, but not the inputnode. Additionally, this current source can be a time-varying currentsource (e.g., an alternating current (AC) source or a periodic currentsource) adapted to transmit a third signal to the output node. Thus, theoutput node receives and combines the phase adjusted signal (i.e., thesecond signal) from the variable delay device with the third signal fromthe current source such that the final output of the phase adjustingmixer circuit comprises a fourth signal.

These and other aspects of the embodiments of the invention will bebetter appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction withthe following description and the accompanying drawings. It should beunderstood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicatingembodiments of the invention and numerous specific details thereof, aregiven by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments of theinvention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodimentsof the invention include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the invention will be better understood from thefollowing detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a phaseadjusting circuit;

FIG. 2 is a table illustrating selective behavior in the phase adjustingcircuit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a is a diagram illustrating latency in the series connection;

FIG. 3 b is a diagram illustrating output signal delay, when a singlepropagation FET is selected;

FIG. 4 is a table illustrating two examples of alternative selectivebehavior in the phase adjusting circuit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating latency in the series connection, whentwo propagation FETs are selected;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating latency in the series connection, whenmore than two propagation FETs are selected;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating added resistance and capacitance in theseries connection;

FIG. 8 is schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of a phaseadjusting circuit 800;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a phaseadjusting mixer circuit 900;

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an exemplary design flow 1100; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a general-purpose computersystem 1000 for practicing the design process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the invention and the various features andadvantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference tothe non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and detailed in the following description. It should be notedthat the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawnto scale. Descriptions of well-known components and processingtechniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure theembodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intendedmerely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodimentsof the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skillin the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly,the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of theembodiments of the invention.

As mentioned above, with recent advances in semiconductor technology,integration levels have increased to the point where the functionalcapabilities of a single system-on-a-chip (SOC) produced today mayexceed those of an entire computer that was produced less than fiveyears ago. For example, complex analog functions (e.g., physical layertransceivers and high speed serial interfaces) are routinely integratedinto such SOCs. Operation of such high speed interfaces commonlyrequires a means of phase synchronization to correctly sample incomingdata. Today, phase synchronization is typically accomplished using aphase rotator designed to mix several phase-related signals to create aselectable phase offset However, while adequate for current clock speedsand de-serialization usage, these phase rotators are large, expensive,complex and have limited frequency/granularity.

Technological advancements have also recently been made allowing forembedded radio frequency (RF) functions within larger digital integratedcircuits. These RF functions may see performance benefit if clocks canbe more tightly aligned using phase shifters. Furthermore, current logicdesigns often require delay of clock or data signals in order to correctfor timing (setup or hold) violations in various logic paths. However,because analog functions (e.g., phase rotators and delayed locked loops(DLLs)) are expensive to implement, phase adjusting circuits thatincorporate fixed delay cells are typically used. Such phase adjustingcircuits use a path of delay cells (e.g., inverters) designed to providea significant fixed (i.e. non-programmable) delay that varies overprocess, voltage and temperature (PVT) with other logic cells. The delayvariation between best case (BC) PVT and worst case (WC) PVT may be morethan 2 times. Because of this, a circuit designer must often balance theneed for adding delay to a path to correct timing issues at the BCcorner with the increase in delay at the WC corner. Therefore, there isa need in the art for a circuit topology which provides for low costprogrammable input signal phase-adjustment capability in order to finetune input signal arrival and data synchronization in digital systems.

In view of the foregoing, disclosed herein are embodiments of aprogrammable phase adjusting circuit, a programmable phase adjustingmixer circuit and design structures for these circuits. The programmablephase adjusting circuit comprises a variable delay device connectedbetween an input node for receiving a signal requiring phase adjustmentand an output node for outputting a phase adjusted signal. The variabledelay device is made up of multiple propagation field effect transistors(propagation FETs). The propagation FETs have input diffusion regionsthat are connected to a voltage rail via switches so that they can beselectively biased, gates that are connected (i.e., coupled) in seriesto the input node such that the signal requiring phase adjustment can bepropagated to each of the gates sequentially and output diffusionregions that are connected in parallel to the output node. A currentsource (i.e., load device) is connected between the output node andanother voltage rail (e.g., a power source) and is adapted to bias theoutput node when the variable delay device is off. This load device canbe constant, non-constant and dependent upon the signal at the inputnode or, as in a phase adjusting mixer circuit, non-constant andindependent of the signal at the input node. This variable delay deviceenables a phase adjusting circuit in which small increments ofselectable phase adjustments can be made to a periodic input signal as afunction of which propagation FET(s) is/are selected (i.e., as afunction of propagation delay). During design, the delay can be tuned byvarying the size of the propagation FETs, by incorporating resistance(salicided or non-salicided) into the series connection of the gatesand/or by incorporating capacitance into series connection of the gates.

More particularly, referring to FIG. 1, disclosed herein are embodimentsof a programmable phase adjusting circuit 100. This circuit 100 cancomprise an input node 10 for receiving a periodic signal requiringphase adjustment, an output node 30 for outputting a phase adjustedsignal and a variable delay device 20 connected between the input andoutput nodes.

The variable delay device 20 (i.e., a programmable delay device) cancomprise a plurality of propagation field effect transistors (FETs)111-118 and a plurality of corresponding selection switches 151-158(e.g., selection FETs). Each propagation FET 111-118 comprises an inputdiffusion region 141-148, a gate 121-128 and an output diffusion region131-138. The input diffusion regions 141-148 of each of the propagationFETs 111-118 are adapted to be selectively biased. That is, each inputdiffusion region is connected via a corresponding switch 151-158 to avoltage rail (e.g., ground 50) so as to allow individual and selectivebiasing of the input diffusion region of one or more selected FET(s) ata time. For example, each switch 151-158 can comprise a selection FEThaving an input diffusion region connected to ground, an outputdiffusion region connected to the input diffusion region of acorresponding propagation FET and a gate controlled by correspondingselect line 161-168. Thus, the variable delay device can be constructedof a plurality of FET pairs {151,111}, {152, 112}, {153, 113}, etc.,where each pair includes a selection FET and a propagation FET.

The gates 121-128 of the propagation FETs 111-118 are connected (i.e.,coupled) in series to the input node 10 (i.e., the input node and thegates form a series connection 70). The input node 10 can be adapted toreceive a first signal (e.g., a periodic signal requiring phaseadjustment) from another device 80 (e.g., from another logic circuit, aclock driver, etc.) that is connected to the input node 10 and that islogically positioned before the phase adjusting circuit 100.

The output diffusions regions 131-138 of the propagation FETs 111-118are connected in parallel to the output node 30. A current source 90(i.e., a load device) is connected between another voltage rail (e.g., apower supply 60) and the output node 30. This current source 90 isadapted to bias the output node 30 when all of said field effecttransistors 111-118 are off. The load device 90 and the variable delaydevice 20 in combination work to drive the output node 30 in accordancewith an input signal at the input node 10.

Given the above-described phase adjusting circuit 100 configuration,when the first signal (i.e., the signal requiring phase adjustment) isdriven into the input node 10, this signal is propagated from the inputnode 10 to each of the gates 121-128 sequentially such that the signaldoes not reach a downstream gate until it has first passed through anearlier gate. As the input signal propagates from the first gate 121 tothe last gate 128 in the series connection 70, it encounters a number ofintrinsic delays (IDs) 171-177 built into the system. The intrinsicdelays 171-177 represent the intrinsic RC delay as the input signalpasses from gate to gate.

Furthermore, when an active edge of this first signal reaches the firstgate 121 in the series connection 70, the channel region between theinput and output diffusion regions 141, 131 of the first field effecttransistor 111 is enabled. Next, when the active edge of this firstsignal reaches the second gate 122 in the series connection 70, thechannel region between the input and output diffusion regions 142, 132of the second field effect transistor 112 is enabled. This continuesuntil finally the active edge of this first signal reaches the last gate128 in the series connection 70, thereby enabling the channel regionbetween the input and output diffusion regions 148, 138 of the lastfield effect transistor 118.

Although the active edge of the input signal will enable each of thesechannels in sequence, for each unselected switch (i.e., for eachunselected FET), impedance will remain high in the corresponding inputdiffusion region, thereby preventing any impact on circuit output. Thatis, although the channels are enabled, a second signal (i.e., a phaseadjusted signal) is not transmitted to the output node 30 until an inputdiffusion region is selectively biased. Consequently, phase adjustmentof the first signal is a function of propagation delay of the firstsignal through the series connection of the gates 70 and a function ofwhich one or more of the propagation FETs is selected (i.e., which oneor more of the input diffusion regions are selectively biased).

For the purposes of this disclosure, an active edge of the first signalrefers to the point in the periodic signal wave at which the value ofthe signal is such that it is able to turn on or invert the FETs111-118. Contrarily an inactive edge is the point in the periodic signalwave at which the value of the signal is such that it is able to turnoff the FETs 111-118.

During operation of this phase adjusting circuit 100, a singlepropagation FET (e.g., 113) can be selected. Referring to the table ofFIG. 2 in combination with FIG. 1, seven of the eight control lines161-168 that control switches 151-158, respectively, can be heldinactive (at 0) with a single select line held active (at 1). Example #1illustrates that a single input diffusion region 143 of a singlepropagation FET 113 can be selectively biased by turning on switch 153via control line 163 and, thereby, connecting the input diffusion region143 to a voltage rail (e.g., to ground 50). When the input diffusionregion 143 is biased, impedance will go low in that input diffusionregion 143. However, impedance will remain high in the input diffusionregions 141-142 and 144-148 of all of the other non-selected propagationFETs 111-112 and 114-118 because, although these other input diffusionregions are coupled to their respective output diffusion regions, theyare not connected to a voltage rail (i.e., they are not connected toground 50). Thus, they effectively float and follow the bias of theoutput node 30 as their respective gates are activated.

When the signal wave (i.e., the first signal from the device 80requiring phase adjustment) is injected into the input node 10, it willpass to the first gate 121 in the series connection 70 closest to theinput node 10. As an active edge of the first signal is propagated tothe gates sequentially (i.e., through the series connection 70) andreaches the gate 123 of the selected propagation FET 113, a channel(i.e., an electrical connection) will be enabled between the biasedinput diffusion region 143 of the selected propagation FET 113 and itsoutput diffusion region 133. Biasing the input diffusion region 143 ofthe selected propagation FET 113 allows a second signal (i.e., a phaseadjusted signal) to be transmitted through the selected propagation FET113 to the output node 30 once the channel is enabled. That is, if theselection FET 153 and the propagation FET 113 are n-type and if thecurrent source 90 is p-type, then propagation of a high voltage throughthe gate 123 will pull down the output diffusion region 133 of FET 113,when the input diffusion region 143 is biased. Then, at the output node30, the second signal (i.e., the phase adjusted signal) is combined withthe load of the current source 90 (i.e., with the load of the loaddevice). Finally, the first signal continues to be propagatedsequentially to the gates in the series connection 70 and, as theinactive edge of the first signal passes through the gate 123 of theselected propagation FET 113, the electrical connection will be broken(i.e., transmission of the second signal to the output node 30 isbroken).

The phase difference between the first and second signals is based inpart on which propagation FET is selected (i.e., which input diffusionregion is selectively biased) relative to the originating point of thefirst signal. That is, because the propagation FETs 111-118 areconnected with their gates 121-128 in series, the arrival time of thefirst signal (i.e., the periodic signal requiring phase adjustment) ateach of the gates 121-128 varies, thus, the delay, or phase changebetween the input signal and the corresponding transition at the outputnode 30 is dependent on which selection FET 151-158 is enabled and thepropagation delay from gate 121 to gate 128 in the series connection 70.Thus, the greater the electrical distance (i.e. the delay from one gateto the next gate in the series connection due to the resistance andcapacitance of the network) between the selected propagation FET and theinput node 10, the greater the propagation delay will be and, thus, thegreater the phase adjustment will be. Contrarily, the closer theelectrical distance between the selected propagation FET and the inputnode 10, the smaller the phase adjustment will be.

FIG. 3 a in combination with FIG. 1 illustrates the latency generatedwithin the series connection 70 from signal input at the input node 10to the last gate 128 in the series. FIG. 3 b further illustrates thedelay in the output signal measured at the output node 30 connected tooutput diffusion regions 131-138 for propagation FETs 111-118, theselection of which is controlled via select lines 161-168 for switches151-158, respectively. Thus, referring again to FIG. 2, when switch 151controlled by select line 161 is turned on, minimal phase adjustment isprovided because the time delay between application of the input signalactive edge to input node 10 and activation of the gate 121 is minimal.Turning on later switches 152-158 via select lines 162-168,respectively, allows for incremental increases in the latency betweenthe time at which the active edge of the signal is input into the inputnode 10 and the inverting output is provided at the output node 30.

Alternatively, during operation of this phase adjusting circuit,multiple propagation FETs can be selected (i.e., some of the eightcontrol lines 161-168 that control switches 151-158, respectively, canbe held inactive (at 0) and some held active (at 1)) such that multipleinput diffusion regions corresponding to multiple propagation FETs areselectively and simultaneously biased. When multiple input diffusionregions are selectively biased, impedance will remain high in the inputdiffusion regions of all of the other non-selected propagation FETs.When the first signal is driven into the input node and propagatedsequentially through each of the gates in the series connection,channels will be enabled between the input diffusion regions and theoutput diffusion regions of each propagation FET. However, as the activeedge of the first signal reaches the gate of the first selected FET(i.e., the first FET having a biased input diffusion region), a secondsignal (i.e., a phase adjusted signal) will begin passing through thefirst selected propagation FET to its corresponding output diffusionregion. When the active edge of the first signal passes through the gateof the second selected propagation FET (i.e., the next FET having abiased input diffusion region), nothing happens because second signalhas already been propagated. Similarly, when the inactive edge of thefirst signal passes through the gate of the first selected propagationFET, nothing happens because the output node continues to be driven tothe second signal due to the biasing of input diffusion region of thesecond selected propagation FET. Only when the inactive edge of thefirst signal passes through the gate of the last selected propagationFET (i.e., the last FET having a biased input diffusion region) is theelectrical connection broken (i.e., is transmission of the second signalbroken), thereby allowing the output node to again be controlled by thecurrent source. Thus, not only is the phase of the first signaladjusted, but also the length (i.e., the pulse width).

The table of FIG. 4 provides two exemplary circuits states in which theinput diffusion regions for two or more selected propagation FETs arebiased. FIG. 5 illustrates the latency generated when two select lines(e.g., select lines 162 and 166) are enabled, as in the first example ofFIG. 4. Specifically, the output node 30 of the phase delay circuit 100of FIG. 1 inverts when the active edge of the input signal turns on gate122 of propagation FET 112. As the input signal continues to propagatedown the series connection 70 and reaches gate 126 of propagation FET116, the gate 126 turns on reinforcing the connection between thevoltage rail (e.g., ground 50) and the output node 30. Since propagationFET 112 was already turned on, the turn on of propagation FET 116 doesnot affect the inverting edge of the output node 30. When the inactiveedge of the input signal reaches the gate 122 of propagation FET 112,propagation FET 112 turns-off and the channel between the ground 50 andthe output node 30 through propagation FET 112 is disabled. However,because the inactive edge has not reached propagation FET 116 yet, theoutput node 30 is held. When the inactive edge reaches gate 126 ofpropagation FET 116, the remaining channel between the ground 50 and theoutput node 30 is disabled and the load device 90 pulls the output node30 connected to the load device 90 to the opposing voltage rail (e.g.,power source 60). The adjustment of turn-on/turn-off delay allows thepulse width through the phase shift circuit to be selectively widened.This may be used to counteract any pulse shrinkage in the path.

FIG. 6 illustrates the latency generated when three select lines (e.g.,select lines 161, 164 and 167) are enabled, as in the second example ofFIG. 4. Specifically, select line 161 provides the selection of activeedge delay, whereas select line 167 provides selection of inactive edgedelay. Because selection line 164 controls neither the first selectedswitch-propagation FET pair, nor the last selected switch-propagationFET pair, it does not affect the pulse width of the circuit.

Delay and, thus, phase-adjustment is based, not only on whichpropagation FET(s) is/are selected (i.e., which input diffusion regionsare selectively biased), but also on resistance and capacitance withinthe in series connection of the gates (i.e., RC delay). Thus, thevariable delay device 20 in the phase adjusting circuit 100 can furtherbe designed with propagation FETs having different sizes, withresistance (salicided or non-salicided) incorporated into the seriesconnection 70 of the gates 121-128 and/or with capacitance incorporatedinto the series connection 70 of the gates 121-128 so as to fine tunethe incremental changes in delay. Specifically, the propagation FETS ofthe variable delay device 20 can have uniform sizes so as to provideuniform delay increments or varying sizes so as to provide eithernon-uniform delay increments or to compensate for other delay inducingfeatures in the circuit in order to ensure uniform delay increments.Additionally, referring to FIG. 7, the variable delay device 20 cancomprise one or more resistors 711-717 and/or capacitors 721-727incorporated into the series connection 70 of the gates 121-128 (i.e.,connected in series with the gates 121-128). Resistors 711-717 may beconnected between nodes 770 in the series connection 70 of the gates andmay be constructed using any resistive layer available in semiconductorprocessing and may be non-silicided or silicided polysilicon, silicidedor non-silicided diffusion, metallic resistance or other resistance aspracticable. Capacitors 721-727 can be added to nodes 770 of the seriesconnection 70 at select intervals to further increase the phase adjustavailable between each of the source regions. That is, charging of eachof the gates 122-128 beyond gate 121 incurs a larger RC delay requiredto charge the added capacitance through the series gate connection 70.The capacitance addition may be practiced independently of thetransistor type chosen for the propagation FETs or the use of additionalresistance between propagation FET gates 121-128. In addition,capacitance need not be added to each gate node in the phase delaycircuit structure, but may be added in a non-uniform manner if anon-uniform delay increment is desired. Finally, the series connectionof the gates can comprise only silicide regions, only non-silicideregion or a mixture of silicide and non-silicide regions, for example,on the gates themselves and/or between the gates to achieve the desireddelay increment.

As mentioned above, the current source 90 (i.e., the load device) isconnected between the output node 30 and a voltage rail (e.g., a powersource 60) and is adapted to bias the output node 30 when all of thepropagation FETs 111-118 are turned off. At the output node 30, thephase adjusted signal is combined with the load of the current source90. In one embodiment of the phase adjusting circuit, as illustrated inFIG. 1, this current source 90 is a constant current source comprising,for example, a biased FET, a diode-connected FET or any other suitabledevice that is sized to provide appropriate signal swing)).

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 8, in another embodiment of theinvention, the phase adjusting circuit can comprise the same componentsillustrated in FIG. 1 and described above. That is, the phase adjustingcircuit can be configured with a variable delay device 20, as describedabove, connected between an input node 10 and an output node 30, etc.However, in this embodiment the current source 90 (i.e., the loaddevice) connected between the output node and a voltage rail 60 isnon-constant and dependent upon the same first signal at the input node10 as the variable delay device 20. For example, the current source 90can comprise at least one additional delay device that is also connectedbetween the input and output nodes 10, 30 of the phase adjusting circuit(i.e., a common input feeds both the variable delay device 20 andadditional delay device 90). As with the variable delay device 20, thisadditional delay device (i.e., current source 90) can be adapted toreceive the first signal at the input node 10 and simultaneously, butindependently, phase adjust the first signal. Thus, in this embodimentthe output node 30 is adapted to combine the separate phase adjustedsignals from both the different delay devices (i.e., from the variabledelay device 20 and the additional delay device 90) such that the finaloutput of the phase adjusting circuit at node 30 is a single combinedphase adjusted signal. This additional delay device can comprise anon-variable delay device, another variable delay device or any othersuitable delay device.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the additional delay device cancomprise a second variable delay device that is configured in the samemanner as variable delay device 20, but complementary thereto. Thus, thefirst variable delay device 20 and the second variable delay device(i.e., current source 90) each may have unique select controls.Specifically, in the first variable delay device select lines 161-168control switches 151-158 in order to allow the input diffusion regions141-148 of a first type (e.g., n-type) propagation FETs 111-118 to beselectively biased. Similarly, in the second variable delay device(i.e., current source 90) select lines 861-868 control switches 851-858in order to allow the input diffusion regions 841-848 of opposite type(e.g., p-type) propagation FETs 811-818 to be selectively biased. Thus,the phase offset of the input-to-output delay may be tuned for both theactive and inactive edges of the input (i.e., selection lines 161-168 ofvariable delay device 20 select the delay from input rising to outputfalling and selection inputs 861-868 of the second variable delay device(i.e., current source 90) select the delay from input falling to outputrising).

Referring to FIG. 9, in yet another embodiment of the invention, thephase adjusting circuit can comprise the same components illustrated inFIG. 1 and described above. That is, the phase adjusting circuit can beconfigured with a variable delay device 20 connected between an inputnode 10 and an output node 30, etc. However, in this embodiment thecurrent source 90 (i.e., the load device) can be both non-constant andnot dependent upon the first signal at the input node 10, but ratherdependent upon a second input 91. Thus, the circuit in this embodimentfunctions as both a phase adjusting circuit and a mixer circuit. Thatis, in a phase adjusting mixer circuit as illustrated in FIG. 9, thecurrent source 90 can be electrically connected to the output node 30and a second input node 91, different from the first input node 10.Additionally, this current source 90 can be a time-varying currentsource (e.g., an alternating current (AC) source or a periodic currentsource) adapted to transmit a third signal to the output node 30. Thus,the output node 30 receives and combines the phase adjusted signal(i.e., the second signal) from the variable delay device 20 with thethird signal from the current source 90 such that the final output ofthe phase adjusting mixer circuit comprises a fourth (mixed) signal.

Also disclosed are embodiments of a design structure embodied in amachine readable medium used in a design flow process, where the designstructure represents the phase adjusting and phase adjusting mixercircuits, discussed in detail above and illustrated in FIGS. 1, 7, 8,and 9. More specifically, FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an exampledesign flow 1000. Design flow 1000 may vary depending on the type of ICbeing designed. For example, a design flow 1000 for building anapplication specific IC (ASIC) will differ from a design flow 1000 fordesigning a standard component. Design structure 1020 is an input to adesign process 1010 and may come from an IP provider, a core developer,or other design company. Design structure 1020 comprises circuit 100 ofFIG. 1 and/or any of the other circuit embodiments disclosed herein(e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 7-9) in the form of schematics or HDL, ahardware-description language, (e.g., Verilog, VHDL, C, etc.). Designstructure 1020 may be stored on one or more of machine readable medium1075 as shown in FIG. 10. For example, design structure 1020 may be atext file or a graphical representation of circuit 100 of FIG. 1 or ofany of the other circuit embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., asillustrated in FIGS. 7-9). Design process 1010 synthesizes (ortranslates) circuit 100 or any of the other circuit embodimentsdisclosed herein into a netlist 1080, where netlist 1080 is, forexample, a list of fat wires, transistors, logic gates, controlcircuits, I/O, models, etc. and describes the connections to otherelements and circuits in an integrated circuit design and recorded on atleast one of machine readable medium 1075.

Design process 1010 includes using a variety of inputs; for example,inputs from library elements 1030 which may house a set of commonly usedelements, circuits, and devices, including models, layouts, and symbolicrepresentations, for a given manufacturing technology (e.g. differenttechnology nodes, 32 nm, 45 nm, 90 nm, etc.), design specifications1040, characterization data 1050, verification data 1060, design rules1070, and test data files 1085, which may include test patterns andother testing information. Design process 1010 further includes, forexample, standard circuit design processes such as timing analysis,verification tools, design rule checkers, place and route tools, etc.One of ordinary skill in the art of integrated circuit design canappreciate the extent of possible electronic design automation tools andapplications used in design process 1010 without deviating from thescope and spirit of the invention.

Ultimately design process 1010 translates circuit 100 or any of theother circuit embodiments disclosed herein, along with the rest of theintegrated circuit design (if applicable), into a final design structure1090 (e.g., information stored in a GDS storage medium 1075). Finaldesign structure 1090 may comprise information such as, for example,test data files, design content files, manufacturing data, layoutparameters, wires, levels of metal, vias, shapes, test data, data forrouting through the manufacturing line, and any other data required by asemiconductor manufacturer to produce circuit 100 or any of the othercircuit embodiments disclosed herein. Final design structure 1090 maythen proceed to a stage 1095 of design flow 1000; where stage 1095 is,for example, where final design structure 1090: proceeds to tape-out, isreleased to manufacturing, is sent to another design house or is sentback to the customer.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a general-purpose computersystem 1100 for practicing the design process, discussed above. Thecomputer system 1100 has at least one microprocessor or centralprocessing unit (CPU) 1105. CPU 1105 is interconnected via a system bus1120 to machine readable media 1175, which includes, for example, arandom access memory (RAM) 1110, a read-only memory (ROM) 1115, aremovable and/or program storage device 1155 and a mass data and/orprogram storage device 1150. An input/output (I/O) adapter 1130 connectsmass storage device 1150 and removable storage device 1155 to system bus1120. A user interface 1135 connects a keyboard 1165 and a mouse 1160 tosystem bus 1120, and a port adapter 1125 connects a data port 1145 tosystem bus 1120 and a display adapter 1140 connect a display device1170. ROM 1115 contains the basic operating system for computer system1100. Examples of removable data and/or program storage device 1155include magnetic media such as floppy drives, tape drives, portableflash drives, zip drives, and optical media such as CD ROM or DVDdrives. Examples of mass data and/or program storage device 1150 includehard disk drives and non-volatile memory such as flash memory. Inaddition to keyboard 1165 and mouse 1160, other user input devices suchas trackballs, writing tablets, pressure pads, microphones, light pensand position-sensing screen displays may be connected to user interface1135. Examples of display device 1170 include cathode-ray tubes (CRT)and liquid crystal displays (LCD).

A machine readable computer program may be created by one of skill inthe art and stored in computer system 1100 and/or any one or more ofmachine readable medium 1175 to simplify the practicing of thisinvention. That is, the design structure 1090 of FIG. 10 may be embodiedin a machine readable medium 1175 and this machine readable medium 1175may be used in the design process 1010 of FIG. 10, where the designstructure 1090 represents the phase adjusting and phase adjusting mixercircuits, discussed in detail above and illustrated in FIGS. 1, 7, 8,and 9. In operation, information for the computer program created to runthe present invention is loaded on the appropriate removable data and/orprogram storage device 1155, fed through data port 1145 or entered usingkeyboard 1165. A user controls the program by manipulating functionsperformed by the computer program and providing other data inputs viaany of the above mentioned data input means. Display device 1170provides a means for the user to accurately control the computer programand perform the desired tasks described herein.

Therefore, disclosed above are embodiments of a programmable phaseadjusting circuit, a programmable phase adjusting mixer circuit anddesign structures for these circuits. The programmable phase adjustingcircuit comprises a variable delay device connected between an inputnode for receiving a signal requiring phase adjustment and an outputnode for outputting a phase adjusted signal. The variable delay deviceis made up of multiple propagation field effect transistors (propagationFETs). The propagation FETs have input diffusion regions that areconnected to a voltage rail via switches so that they can be selectivelybiased, gates that are connected in series to the input node such thatthe signal requiring phase adjustment can be propagated sequentiallythrough each of the gates and output diffusion regions that areconnected in parallel to the output node. A current source (i.e., loaddevice) is connected between the output node and another voltage rail(e.g., a power source) and is adapted to bias the output node when thevariable delay device is off. This load device can be constant,non-constant and dependent upon the signal at the input node or, as in aphase adjusting mixer circuit, non-constant and independent of thesignal at the input node. This variable delay device enables a phaseadjusting circuit in which small increments of selectable phaseadjustments can be made to a periodic input signal as a function ofwhich propagation FET(s) is/are selected (i.e., as a function ofpropagation delay). During design, the delay can be tuned by varying thesize of the propagation FETs, by incorporating resistance (salicided ornon-salicided) into the series connection of the gates and/or byincorporating capacitance into series connection of the gates.

The programmable phase adjusting circuit, disclosed above, may be usedto economically and selectively delay clock edges, data edges or both ina clock and data recovery system (CDR) such as a high speed serial link.In alternative applications, the circuit may be used to resolve earlymode timing violations in digital logic. Further, the circuit provides ameans to tune the delay of a signal during design of an IC, as theresult of IC final test post manufacture and/or throughout IC productlifetime as controlled by delay select lines.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fullyreveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applyingcurrent knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applicationssuch specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept,and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and areintended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalentsof the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that thephraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and not of limitation. Therefore, while the invention hasbeen described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art willrecognize that these embodiments can be practiced with modificationwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, thetransition directions specified above with regard to operation of thephase adjusting circuit were provided for illustration purposes only.These transition directions were not intended to be limiting and thoseskilled in the art will recognize that circuit operation is possiblewith reverse transition directions.

1. A phase adjusting circuit comprising: an input node for receiving afirst signal; an output node; a variable delay device comprising aplurality of field effect transistors comprising input diffusion regionsadapted to be selectively biased, gates connected in series to saidinput node such that said first signal is propagated to said gatessequentially and output diffusions regions connected in parallel to saidoutput node; and a current source connected to said output node andadapted to bias said output node when all of said field effecttransistors are off, wherein, when an input diffusion region of saidselected field effect transistor is selectively biased and when anactive edge of said first signal is propagated from said input node to agate of said selected field effect transistor, a second signal istransmitted through a selected field effect transistor to said outputnode, and wherein a phase difference between said first signal and saidsecond signal is based on delay in propagation of said first signal fromsaid input node to said gate.
 2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein saidvariable delay device further comprises switches corresponding to saidfield effect transistors and connected between said input diffusionregions and a first voltage rail so as to allow selective biasing ofsaid input diffusion regions.
 3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein saidswitches comprise field effect transistors.
 4. The circuit of claim 1,wherein, if only one input diffusion region is selectively biased, whenan inactive edge of said first signal reaches said gate, transmission ofsaid second signal through said selected field effect transistor to saidoutput node is broken.
 5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein, if multipleinput diffusion regions are selectively biased: when said active edge ofsaid first signal reaches a first gate of a first selected field effecttransistor, said second signal is transmitted through said firstselected field effect transistor to said output node, when an inactiveedge of said first signal reaches said first gate, said second signal istransmitted through a next selected field effect transistor to saidoutput node, and when said inactive edge of said first signal reaches alast gate of a last selected field effect transistor, transmission ofsaid second signal to said output node is broken.
 6. The circuit ofclaim 1, wherein said field effect transistors have one of uniform sizesand varying sizes.
 7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said variabledelay device comprises at least one resistor connected in series withsaid gates.
 8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said variable delaydevice comprises at least one capacitor connected at a node in theseries connection of said gates.
 9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein saidvariable delay device comprises a mixture of silicide regions andnon-silicide regions on said gates and connections between said gates.10. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said current source is constant andconnected between said output node and a second voltage rail and whereinsaid output node is adapted to combine said second signal and a loadfrom said current source.
 11. The circuit of claim 1, wherein saidcurrent source comprises at least one additional delay device connectedto said input node and said output node, wherein said additional delaydevice is adapted to receive and phase adjust said first signalsimultaneously with said variable delay device, and wherein said outputnode is adapted to combine phase-adjusted signals from both saidvariable delay device and said at least one additional delay device. 12.The circuit of claim 11, wherein said at least one additional delaydevice comprises a second variable delay device.
 13. A phase adjustingmixer circuit comprising: an input node for receiving a first signal; anoutput node; a variable delay device comprising a plurality of fieldeffect transistors comprising input diffusion regions adapted to beselectively biased, gates connected in series to said input node suchthat said first signal is propagated to said gates sequentially andoutput diffusions regions connected in parallel to said output node,wherein, when an input diffusion region of said selected field effecttransistor is selectively biased and when an active edge of said firstsignal is propagated from said input node to a gate of said selectedfield effect transistor, a second signal is transmitted through aselected field effect transistor to said output node, and wherein aphase difference between said first signal and said second signal isbased on delay in propagation of said first signal from said input nodeto said gate; and a current source connected to said output node,wherein said current source is non-constant, independent of said firstsignal and is adapted to transmit a third signal to said output node,and wherein said output node is adapted to combine said second signaland said third signal.
 14. The circuit of claim 13, wherein saidvariable delay device further comprises corresponding switches betweensaid input diffusion regions and a first voltage rail so as to allowselective biasing of said input diffusion regions.
 15. The circuit ofclaim 13, wherein, if only one input diffusion region is selectivelybiased, when said active edge of said first signal reaches said gate,said second signal is transmitted to said output node through saidselected field effect transistor and, when an inactive edge of saidfirst signal reaches said gate, transmission of said second signal tosaid output node is broken.
 16. The circuit of claim 13, wherein, ifmultiple input diffusion regions are selectively biased: when saidactive edge of said first signal reaches a first gate of a firstselected field effect transistor, said second signal is transmittedthrough said first selected field effect transistor to said output node,when an inactive edge of said first signal reaches said first gate, saidsecond signal is transmitted through a next selected field effecttransistor to said output node, and when said inactive edge of saidfirst signal reaches a last gate of a last selected field effecttransistor, transmission of said second signal to said output node isbroken.
 17. A design structure embodied in a machine readable mediumused in a design flow process, said design structure comprising a phaseadjusting circuit comprising: an input node for receiving a firstsignal; an output node; a variable delay device comprising a pluralityof field effect transistors comprising input diffusion regions adaptedto be selectively biased, gates connected in series to said input nodesuch that said first signal is propagated to said gates sequentially andoutput diffusions regions connected in parallel to said output node; anda current source connected to said output node and adapted to bias saidoutput node when all of said field effect transistors are off, wherein asecond signal is transmitted through a selected field effect transistorto said output node when an input diffusion region of said selectedfield effect transistor is selectively biased and when an active edge ofsaid first signal is propagated from said input node to a gate of saidselected field effect transistor, and wherein a phase difference betweensaid first signal and said second signal is based on delay inpropagation of said first signal from said input node to said gate. 18.The design structure of claim 17, wherein said design structurecomprises a netlist, which describes said phase adjusting circuit. 19.The design structure of claim 17, wherein said design structure resideson a geographically dispersed sites (GDS) storage medium.
 20. The designstructure of claim 17, wherein said design structure comprises at leastone of test data files, characterization data, verification data anddesign specifications.